The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-12-22
JACKSON OHIO THURSDAY. DECEMBER 22. 1887.

Notifications made seventy or eighty
ago by our grandfathers when they
guarded themselves against success
full attack from the ornaments of
that day. We don't necessarily ex-
pect a burglar because we lock our
doors at night, but if by any pos
sibility burglar comes it contributes
vastly to our peace of mind and ou1
sound sleep to feel that he can't gel
in"
"But after the Notifications should
be constructed would you still main
tain the tax on whisky?"
''Yes,'' said Mr.. Blaine, $50 long as
there is whisky to tax l would tax it.
and when the national government
should have no use for the money
would divide the tax among the
federal Union with the specific object
of Tightening the tax on real estate.
The houses and farms of the whole
country pay too large a proportion
Of the total taxes. Ii ultimately re-
lief could be given in that direction it
would, in my Judgment, be a wise and
benefcent policy. Some honest, but
misguided, friends Of temperance have
urged that the government should
not use the money derived from the
tax on whisky. My reply is that the
tax on whisky by the federal govern
ment, with its suppression Of all
illicit distillation and consequent
enhancement of price, has been a
powerful agent in the temperance
reform by putting it beyond the reach
of so many. The amount of whisky
consumed in the United States per
capita to-day is not more than 40 per
cent. of that consumed thirty years
ago"
After a few moments silence Mr..
Blaine added that in his Judgment
the whisky tax should be so modified
as to permit all who use pure alcohol
in the arts or in mechanical pursuits
to have it free Of tax. In all such
cases the tax could be omitted with
out danger of fraud, just as now the
tax on spirits exported is remitted.
Besides your general and sweeping
opposition to the Presidents recon-
mendation, have you any further
specific objection :?
"Yes." answered Mr.. Blaine, II
should seriously object to the repeal
of the duty on wool. To repeal that
would work great injustice to many
interests, and would seriously dis
courage what we should earnestly en-
courage, namely, the sheep culture
among farmers throughout the United
States. Break down wool growing
and be dependent on foreign countries
for the blanket under which we sleep
and the coat thatNevers our backs is
not a wise policy for the national
government to enforce"
"Do you think if the Preside nt's
recommendation were adopted it
would increase our export trade?"
Possibly in some few articles of
peculiar construction it might, but it
would increase our import trade ten
fold as much in the great staple
fabrics, in woolen and cotton goods,
in iron, in steel, in all the thousand
and .one shapes in which they are
wrought. How are we to export
staple fabrics to the markets Of
Europe unless we make them cheaper
than they do in Europe, and how are
we to manufacture them cheaper than
they do in Europe unless we get
cheaper labor than they have in
Europe?''
"Then do you think that the aues-
ton Of labor anderlies the whole
subjecta"
''Of course it does," replied Mr..
Blaine. ut is, in fact, the entire
question. Whenever we can force
carpenters, nasons, iron-workers and
mechanics in every department to
work as cheaply and live as poorly in
the United States as similar workmen
in Europe, we can, of course, manu-
facture just as cheaply as they do in
England and France. But | am
totally opposed to a policy that would
entail such results. To attempt it is
equivalent to a social and financial
revolution, one that would bring un-
told Distress
Yes, but might not the great farm
ing class be benefited by importing
articles from Europe instead of buy
ing them at higher prices at homep
''The moment" answered Mr..
Blaine ''you begin to import freely
from Europe you drive your own
workmen from mechanical and manu-
featuring pursuits. In the same pro-
portion they become tillers of the
soil, increasing steadily the agricul-
tural product and decreasing steadily
the large home demand which is
constantly enlarging as home manu-
facturers enlarge. That, Of course,
works great injury to the farmer
glutting the market with his pro-
ducts and tending constantly to lower
prices
''Yes, but the foreign demand for
farm products would be increased in
like ratio, would it notP"
Even suppose il were" said Mr.
Blaine, show do you know the source
from which it will be supplied. The
tendency in Russia to-day and in the
Asiatic possessions Of England is TO-
ward large increase Of the grain
supply, the grain being raised by the
cheapest possible labor Manu-
featuring countries will buy their
bread-stuffs where they Gan get them
cheapest, and the enlarging Of the
home market for the American farmer
being checked he would search in
vain for one Of the same value. His
foreign sales are already checked by
the great competition abroad. There
never was a time when the increase
of large home market was so valuable
to him. The best proof is that the
farmers are prosperous in proportion
to the nearness Of manufacturing
centers and protective tariff tends
to spread manufacturers. In Ohio
and Indiana, for example, though